Lolla 2012: Best and worst Sunday performances

(Mike Rich / RedEye )

August 05, 2012|By RedEye Sound Board

Best

Jack White, 8:15 p.m. at Red Bull sound stageSince this is a family paper, I can't really describe Jack White's show properly. Just consider the rest of this review a series of expletives and me losing my mind. – Dana Moran

Oberhofer, 1 p.m. at Bud Light stage

I'm as surprised as you may be. I've listened to and enjoyed the band's debut "Time Capsules II" a few times but wasn't prepared for Oberhofer's large crowd and constantly exciting set, incorporating a wide range of creative arrangements for which the members could not have been better prepared. Tight and rowdy, precise but spontaneous, Oberhofer brought showmanship, quality songs and reason to believe in the group's breakout potential. -- Matt Pais

Rescheduled from 3:20 p.m. Saturday due to the evauation, Chicago rockers Empires performed to an inevitably small crowd Sunday night, with most of the Lolla audience getting in position for headliners. Didn't matter. The locals brought as much force and passion as anyone all weekend, energizing even the weaker tunes from the recent "Garage Hymns" and suggesting that they really deserve a bigger stage--if not, someday, an arena.

Earlier in the night, the reunited (for the time being) At the Drive-In faced several technical problems but scorched anyway, reviving the rarely felt sensation that rock can be frisky and dangerous. Frontman Cedric Bixler-Zavala led the charge like a snake given the chance to try on a pair of legs, slithering and jumping around and owning the giant stage like only a true rock star can. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez looked shockingly bored, but the brilliance of his effortless guitar work spoke for itself. -- Matt Pais

White Rabbits, 2:30 p.m. at Bud Light stageThese Brooklyn-by-way-of-my-Missouri-hometown rockers get me every time with their percussion and driving-piano alt rock. Sure, the audience only knew "Percussion Gun," but I didn't care. The group put on an energetic daytime rock show, which should be Lolla's bread and butter. – Emily Van Zandt

Childish Gambino, 8:45 p.m. at Google Play stageHe may not get love from Pitchfork, but Donald Glover worked that stage like nobody’s business Sunday night. The rappper managed to pack the entire stage area all the way to the street and even had kids in trees singing along. Wonderful time. -- Ernest Wilkins

Worst

Overdoz, 2:10 p.m. at BMI stage

I only wasted about 10 minutes or so with these rappers, but that was enough to hear a group with nothing to talk about besides weed and a plea for people to party that came off as desperate. Guys, the fans who know the difference between a charismatic rapper and pointless garbage at the Google Play stage, watching Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. -- Matt Pais

Sigur Ros, 4 p.m. at Red Bull sound stageMaybe I'm just not into these guys. But these dudes are weeeird, and playing during broad daylight didn't help their ethereal sound. I'll stick to Bjork for my Nordic folk in the future. – Dana Moran

Miike Snow, 7:15 p.m. at Sony stageThe one time this weekend I went to a set with no expectations and was disappointed. “Animal” still is the jam, though. -- Ernest Wilkins